Our motto is “Soaring Beyond Expectations”
VISION STATEMENT
The vision of the School of Discovery Genesis Center (SOD) is to provide a child centered, integrated curriculum of academics, technology, and the arts. The school’s environment will allow collaboration among stakeholders to help children discover and develop their individual talents and interests, while recognizing their roles within the school and community.
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the School of Discovery is to provide a positive, safe, and respectful learning community for all students, faculty, and families while preparing students to be productive members of society.
EAGLE CREED
“I am somebody”
I am responsible for my behavior and what I become in life.
Life does not accept excuses.
I will not let my need to be accepted by a group keep me from doing what is right.
I am somebody. I am one of a kind.
There has never been and will never be another person like me.
Therefore,
when faced with a mountain, I will not quit! I will keep on trying
until I climb over, find a pass through, tunnel underneath - or just
stay
and turn the mountain into a gold mine.
I will do my best! I know I can. I am a winner. I am somebody!
BELIEF STATEMENTS
The faculty and staff of the School of Discovery believe that:
1. A
quality education includes teaching children how to learn and how to critically
apply learning to daily life.
2. All
children can learn, and should be given the opportunity to develop to their
fullest potential, intellectually, socially, and emotionally.
3. All
students should be exposed to the arts and technology in order to develop and
exhibit creativity.
4.
Students learn best when exposed to engaging, creative and innovative learning
opportunities.
5. Instructional
rigor should be evident through the incorporation of standards based
instruction.
6.
Students should be held accountable for making good choices and being
responsible for their academics and behavior.
7. A safe,
attractive, and physically comfortable environment promotes student learning.
8.
Professional growth of educators is an ongoing process that is vital to
providing a quality education.
9.
Parental and community involvement and support are essential in fostering good
character, academics and attendance.
10. School is a professional learning community
that holds each student to high academic and behavior standards.
SELMA CITY SCHOOLS
VISION STATEMENT
The vision of the Selma City School District is to be documented as a model school district where students are empowered through academic excellence to achieve success throughout life.
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Selma City School System is to provide a safe and supportive teaching and learning environment, through the collaboration and partnerships of parents and community.
OUR CORE VALUES
- Students First
- Excellence
- Teamwork
- Joy
- Integrity
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The
School of Discovery Genesis Center (SOD) was established in 1994 as a
stand-alone sixth-grade public school in historical downtown Selma,
Alabama. Twenty years later, the school has preserved its founding
principles of providing an outstanding education and first-rate fine
arts---all while adapting to the millennial generation and the 21st
Century classroom.
SOD created an essential modification to the sixth through eighth grade middle school model that gives preteens an exclusive sixth grade campus in which to transition, learn, and mature mentally and physically. The demographics of the City of Selma dictate that the education system plays a vital role in ensuring the increased matriculation of its citizens. Selma has 43.5 percent of its population living below the poverty level and only 17.2 percent of its population 25 years of age and older with a bachelor's degree or higher.* The SOD philosophy is to catch, teach and guide student early in the way in which you want them to go.
SOD
is a full-fledged middle school, with a seven-period school day, daily
physical education and health, student lockers and significant emphasis
on structure, discipline, self-reliance, self-motivation, and
responsibility. Without overindulging or coddling, the SOD principal,
assistant principals, counselor, and staff of 100 percent highly
qualified teachers prepare students academically for in-class
achievement as well as real-world experiences, setting high expectations
for each student.
SOD
offers a course designed specifically to assist students in middle
school called Bridges to Success. It covers topics such as character
building traits, bullying, peer pressure, note taking, research papers,
public speaking, and debate. To guarantee student exposure to career and
college exploration, SOD is pleased to offer, as of 2014, a Career
Technical course titled Intro to Career Cluster Technologies. The course
provides the basics of using computer applications, but it also allows
students to learn through online course curricula, post assignments
through social network-like platforms, engage students using email, and
stream video with computer hardware including desktop computers, iPads
and SmartBoards. Additionally, students set-up Kuder Navigator accounts,
which is the Alabama Career Planning System that is utilized throughout
middle and high schools.
In
addition to offering the Alabama Common Core curriculum, SOD offers
semester electives in core subjects. The Reading and Language Arts
department offers a course in Multicultural Literature and Writing. The
Mathematics Department has offered courses in Banking and Sports
Statistics in recent years. The Science Department offers courses in
Aerospace and Robotics and the Social Studies Departments offers a
course in Law and Order.
Fine Arts courses have been offered in Visual Arts, Music Appreciation, and Electronic Keyboarding. Full year classes are offered in Dance and Choir. Dance features boys' tap and tumbling and girls' tap, ballet and jazz. Choral features separate boys' and girls' choir classes that combined to form the school's Choral Ensemble, which competes on the regional state circuit.
Besides the unique altered middle school model and curriculum of SOD, the actual faculty and invested technology adds to the school's mystique and appeal. Built in the early 1900's, the SOD building is the only public school located in downtown Selma. It is poised to play a pivotal role in the revitalization of the city's Waterfront and its downtown civic, business, entertainment and educational vitality. The school is nestled a half-block away from City Hall and three blocks from the newly named National Historic Landmark, the Edmunds Pettus Bridge. The school is home to the city's Butterfly Garden, so named during Selma's designation as the Butterfly Capital of Alabama. SOD also houses the premier performance venue in town, the Pickard Auditorium. It has a capacity of 900, a built-in ticket-booth in the lobby, balcony seating, an orchestra pit, and state-of-the art lighting and adjacent dressing rooms. The auditorium is rented to the public by the school district, generating revenue.
Another hot spot of education, entertainment, and revenue is the Kenneth R. Hardaway Gymnasium. Renovated in 2009, the gym touts a built-in concession lobby, offices, storage, two locker rooms, a dance studio and a weight/exercise room. When the gym is not being used for physical education and health, it is routinely used for weekend basketball with the Selma Police Department's PAL organization, the city's summer Youth Recreational Program and the occasional wedding reception.